Bill Esterson MP praises Maghull Health Centre for confirming th

Sefton Central Labour MP Bill Esterson has welcomed news Maghull Health Centre is to upgrade its phone system after complaints from patients who said it was impossible to get through to make an appointment to see a doctor.

The MP contacted the health centre after hearing complaints from residents.

Would-be patients complained that when they tried to make an appointment using the specially created health centre phone number, they were automatically placed on hold before seemingly being cut off after some minutes.

But after raising the concerns with staff, the health centre has now announced that it will make changes to the system.

One of the residents, Peter Gannon said: "I was given the number by the surgery, but when I tried to call it, I would automatically be placed on hold, then cut off. I couldn't even leave a message.

"I found that the only way around it was to physically go into the surgery to make an appointment in person - which defeats the object of having a phone number.

"Each time I raised the issue with the health centre they were sympathetic, but nothing was done."

But after Bill Esterson raised the patients' concerns with the health centre, they confirmed that they would be changing the telephone system.

Bill said: "A number of constituents contacted me with complaints about the telephone system at Maghull Health Centre. They told me they were unable to get through to make appointments.

"This was clearly a situation which we could not allow to continue.

"So I am pleased that the medical centre has listened to the concerns and decided to take decisive action by replacing the telephone system.

"I am told that they are going to make the changes as a matter of urgency. I will continue to monitor the situation t make sure that the improvements have been made."

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